MPC Member Publications

This database contains a listing of population studies publications written by MPC Members. Anyone can add a publication by an MPC student, faculty, or staff member to this database; new citations will be reviewed and approved by MPC administrators.

Full Citation

Title: ACA dependent coverage provision reduced high out-of-pocket health care spending for young adults

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2014

ISSN: 1544-5208; 0278-2715

DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.0155 [doi]

PMID: 25092837

Abstract: Since September 2010 the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has required that insurers allow children to remain as dependents on their parents' private insurance plans until age twenty-six. Studies have shown that this provision increased coverage rates among young adults. In this article we analyze whether the provision also protected young adults from large and uncertain out-of-pocket expenses. We found that the policy was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the share of young adults facing annual out-of-pocket expenditures greater than $1,500 (decreasing from 4.2 percent to 2.9 percent), compared to an increase in the proportion of their slightly older peers facing such expenditures (increasing from 4.4 percent to 5.4 percent), a net difference of -2.4 percentage points, or 57 percent. We conclude that the dependent coverage provision in the ACA provides financial protection for young adults at a time when they often face high debt burden but low wages.

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Busch, Susan H; Golberstein, Ezra; Meara, Ellen

Periodical (Full): Health affairs (Project Hope)

Issue: 8

Volume: 33

Pages: 1361-2726

Countries:

IPUMS NHGIS NAPP IHIS ATUS Terrapop